A rising tide of lawsuits between banks and clients

As the economy flounders in the doldrums, the number of legal actions increases.

As the economic downturn continues, a trend is emerging of banks suing clients for payments -- and of clients suing their banks in return.

Citi private bank and Merrill Lynch are both embroiled in lawsuits at the moment. J.P. Morgan won a London court ruling in a $19.1 million lawsuit against Kalbe Farma in late December over allegations that the company reneged on a currency-hedging agreement. The US bank is currently attempting to enforce that ruling in a...